Since unbalanced counts are quite a bit easier to use and lose very little in the way of performance, many new card counters choose the unbalanced route over balanced. Still, once a player learns his unbalanced count well, he may become concerned over the fact that in most cases, it merely estimates his "true count`. When he's got a huge bet riding and has the hand shown on the next page with a high running count, he may be reluctant to stand as his system might recommend at that point. He realizes there's a margin of error in playing his hands strictly by the running count, and most of the time that's okay

If you share that same queasiness about these kinds of hands, true fudging can help. Here's how. The Stage II and III Kiss index charts tell you to stand in a six deck game with 15 against a 10 if the running count is "27" or more. But that's just a good averaged number! In reality, if you encountered that hand after only two decks had been played out, you shouldn't stand at less than "29". Yet, if you're near the shuffle you should stand at "25". All three of those running counts at their respective penetration levels will equal a true count ("count per deck" ) of +4 -- which is the real number at which you should stand. But if you want to play that hand strictly by the running count, "27" is your best number.

This error margin exists to one degree or another at all running counts -- except "21", where it is always exactly "+2 true". The closer to "21" you are, the less possible error there is. An example of a hand with minimal playing error would be 9 against a deuce. There, the Kiss index charts tell you to double down at a running count of "19" or higher.

The actual count at which you want to make this play is "+1 true". Well, in a six deck game, a running count of "19" after two decks have been played equals a true count of "+1.5". Near the shuffle where maybe only 13/a decks are left, that running count of "19" equals "+0.9 true". So as finicky as you might be about your accuracy, any running counts between "19" and "23" are close enough to perfect that they're just not worth worrying about. Above and below those counts however;